How to Succeed in Online Studies

Technology has transformed every aspect of our lives today, and studies are no exception. Studies are no longer confined to the classroom. If you have a mobile, laptop and internet, you can study from anywhere in the world, at any time. Still, it is true that everything comes at a price. Online education needs dedication, discipline, and effort-or else, the right strategy.

Whether it is online learning or preparing for different competitive examination or just mastering something new, the article is useful for you.

1. Set your goals clearly – to maintain direction

When you start studying online, the first step is to set a goal. If you don’t have a clear goal, you may get lost.

How to set the right goal?

Don’t just say “I want to learn English”, but say: “I will memorise 20 new English words every day and make one sentence out of them.”

If you are doing a programming course, then decide: “Every week I will understand one topic and make a small project related to it.”

Divide big tasks into smaller parts

If a course has 10 chapters, then don’t think, “There is so much, how will I do it?” Rather, divide it into 10 weeks – one chapter every week.

Benefit? This will make you feel more organized and you will not feel stressed.

2. Choose a quiet and clean place to study

Where you are sitting and studying has a direct impact on your concentration. Many people think that they will study while lying on the bed, but doing so distracts the mind quickly.

How should the study place be?

• Quiet and organized: Where there is minimum noise. If there is noise in the house, then study early in the morning or late in the evening.
• Right furniture: Use a chair and table. This will allow you to sit for a long time without getting tired.
• Away from digital disturbance: Put the mobile on ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode or keep it in another room.
• Good lighting: Bright and clear light is necessary to protect the eyes from fatigue. If possible, sit near the window where there is natural light.
• Keep the material ready: Books, pens, notebooks, laptop – whatever you need, keep it in advance so that you do not have to get up again and again.

3. Make a habit of studying daily – Make a routine

The biggest challenge in online study is the thought of “I will do it tomorrow”. And with this thinking we keep procrastinating.

How to make a study timetable?

• Keep a fixed time for study every day. Like – 7 to 8 in the morning or 9 to 10 in the night.
• Keep the time you have chosen every day. This forms a habit.
• After every 25-30 minutes of study, take a short break of 5 minutes. This is called ‘Pomodoro Technique’ and it is a very effective method.

Example:

If you go to school or college, then after returning home, keep time from 6 to 7 in the evening for online study. On Sunday, give a little more time and complete the remaining chapters.

4. Be active in studies – just listening will not help

In online studies, often people think that they have understood everything by just watching the video, but in reality it is not so. Active learning means – studying by connecting with yourself.

Methods of active learning:

• Make notes while watching the video. Write the points that you understand in your own words.
• Stop the video in between and think – “Did I understand this topic?”
• Ask questions wherever you get a chance – in the course discussion forum or live session.
• Explain what you have learned to someone else – like younger siblings, friends or parents. This will strengthen your understanding.

5. Make full use of all the resources

The biggest plus point of online study is – lots of resources. You can learn the same topic in different ways.

List of useful resources:

• Video platforms: YouTube, Khan Academy, Coursera, NPTEL offer free content on almost every subject.
• Blogs and articles: If you don’t understand a topic in class, read articles related to it on Google.
• Apps: Quizlet, Anki can help you remember new words or facts easily.
• Doubt clearing platforms: Ask your questions on Brainly, Doubtnut, or Stack Overflow.
• Free mock tests: Many course websites offer mock tests – take full advantage of them.

6. Manage your notes and time properly

If you have not organized your study material properly, you will face problems later.

How to become organized?

• Put the dates of all assignments in a digital calendar. Tools like Google Calendar, Notion or Trello are helpful in this.
• Create separate folders for each subject – like “Math Notes”, “History PDFs” etc.
• Save notes with a good name and date – so that they can be easily found when needed.

7. Don’t hesitate to ask for help

Many of us think that if we ask someone a question, people will think that we don’t know anything. But the truth is that asking questions is not a weakness, but the first step to learning.

Where and how to ask for help?

• Ask your course teacher or tutor – via email or in a live session.
• Create a WhatsApp or Telegram study group with your classmates.
• Join Reddit, Discord, or Facebook groups – people are always ready to help.

Example:

If you don’t understand ‘loops’ in Python, write your question on Stack Overflow. You will get solutions from many people there.

8. Assess your progress from time to time

If you don’t see how much you have learned, you won’t know where you need improvement.

How to check your progress?

• Every Sunday Ask yourself questions – “What did I learn this week?”, “Do I understand this topic well?”
• Take small tests and track their scores.
• Reread the areas where you found your understanding lacking.
• If a method is not working, change it – for example, if you are not able to understand through audio, then watch a video or do a practical.

Conclusion: Studying online is lonely, but the journey can be wonderful

Online study appears easy, but at times, it could be lonely and even lethargic. It could be a distraction at times too, but once a proper routine, strategy, and some seriousness are put in, online study is like a ladder on which you can climb to success.

Remember:

• Set a goal.
• Fix a time every day.
• Make studying fun and active.
• Take help, ask questions, and believe in yourself.

If you follow all these things, then online studying will not become a headache for you but a guarantee of success – whether you are a school student, in college, or want to learn something new along with your job.